Automated Custom Design Generation

Abstract

A method includes obtaining a custom specification that describes at least one option for the product, obtaining predefined configuration data that includes a commodity feature definition that describes a plurality of commodities associated with the product, a commodity interface definition that describes interface requirements among said plurality of commodities, a design table that associates said commodity feature definition and said commodity interface definition for a commodity; and a hierarchy of said plurality of commodities, generating the design configuration as a function of said custom specification and said predefined configuration data, wherein said hierarchy of said plurality of commodities controls order in which said plurality of commodities are applied to said product for automatic generation of the design configuration and said commodity interface definition with said design table ensure coordination among said plurality of commodities.

1 . A method for generating a design configuration for a product, comprising:
 obtaining a custom specification that describes at least one option for the product;   obtaining predefined configuration data that comprises:
 a commodity feature definition that describes a plurality of commodities associated with the product; 
 a commodity interface definition that describes interface requirements among said plurality of commodities; 
 a design table that associates said commodity feature definition and said commodity interface definition for a commodity; and 
 a hierarchy of said plurality of commodities; 
   generating the design configuration as a function of said custom specification and said predefined configuration data, wherein said hierarchy of said plurality of commodities controls order in which said plurality of commodities are applied to said product for automatic generation of the design configuration and said commodity interface definition with said design table ensure coordination among said plurality of commodities.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 reviewing the design configuration for conformance to an engineering requirement; and   updating said predefined configuration data based at least in part upon nonconformance of said design configuration.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining a second custom specification; and   generating a second design configuration as a function of said second custom specification and said predefined configuration data, wherein said hierarchy of said plurality of commodities controls order in which said plurality of commodities are applied to said product for automatic generation of said second design configuration and said commodity interface definition ensures coordination among said plurality of commodities.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said commodity feature definition is a commodity logic tree. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said commodity interface definition is an interface logic tree. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hierarchy of said plurality of commodities is a product logic tree. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , the design configuration is a standardized format suitable for use with product management software. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating said commodity feature definition;   generating said commodity interface definition; and   generating said hierarchy of said plurality of commodities.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said design configuration comprises:
 a bill of materials that specifies the product at the feature level;   at least one customized design table based at least in part upon said design table and said custom specification; and   a customer specific end item that describes the product.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said predefined configuration data further comprises a product template definition represents all possible permutations of a commodity of said plurality of commodities and said customer specific end item is derived at least in part from said product template definition. 
   
   
       11 . A method for generating a design configuration for an aerospace product, comprising:
 obtaining a custom specification that describes at least one option for the aerospace product;   obtaining predefined configuration data that comprises:
 a commodity feature definition that describes a plurality of commodities associated with the aerospace product; 
 a commodity interface definition that describes interface requirements among said plurality of commodities; 
 a design table that associates said commodity feature definition and said commodity interface definition for a commodity; and 
 a hierarchy of said plurality of commodities; and 
   generating the design configuration as a function of said custom specification and said predefined configuration data, wherein said hierarchy of said plurality of commodities controls order in which said plurality of commodities are applied to said product for automatic generation of the design configuration and said commodity interface definition with said design table ensure coordination among said plurality of commodities.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of commodities includes a component of an airplane interior and the design configuration specifies an airplane interior. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said commodity feature definition is a commodity logic tree. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said commodity interface definition is an interface logic tree. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said design configuration comprises:
 a bill of materials that specifies the product at the feature level;   at least one customized design table based at least in part upon said design table and said custom specification; and   a customer specific end item that describes the product.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said predefined configuration data further comprises a product template definition represents all possible permutations of a commodity of said plurality of commodities and said customer specific end item is derived at least in part from said product template definition. 
   
   
       17 . A system that facilitates automatic generation of a configuration for a product, comprising:
 a product hierarchy that specifies a hierarchy of a plurality of commodities for the configuration of the product;   an interface logic tree that specifies interface requirements for said plurality of commodities;   a plurality of commodity logic trees, wherein each of said plurality of commodity trees specifies one of said plurality of commodities; and   a configuration component that generates the configuration as a function of a customer selection, said product hierarchy, said interface logic tree, and said plurality of commodity logic trees.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a plurality of design tables that associate each of said plurality of commodity trees and said interface logic tree for said plurality of commodities; and   a product template definition that represents permutations of a commodity,   wherein the configuration is generated as a function of said plurality of design tables and said product template definition.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the configuration is comprised of:
 a plurality of custom design tables based at least in part upon said plurality of design tables and customer specifications;   a customer specific end item derived at least in part from the plurality of design tables and said product template definition.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of commodities includes a component of an airplane interior and the design configuration specifies an airplane interior.